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Epilepsy: Anterior Temporal Lobectomy

Topic Overview

Anterior temporal lobectomy is the removal of part of one of the
brain's temporal lobes. It is the most common type of surgery for
epilepsy.

Anterior temporal lobectomy is used to treat people with
temporal lobe epilepsy, the most common type of
epilepsy in adults, when antiepileptic medicines fail to control
seizures. Temporal lobe epilepsy usually causes
complex partial seizures that begin in the temporal lobe.

For a person who has seizures that do not get better with
antiepileptic medicines, anterior temporal lobectomy may be a good option.
Having surgery may help control epilepsy better than if the person were to keep
trying antiepileptic medicines.1

Related Information

References

Citations

Engel J Jr, et al. (2003, reaffirmed 2005). Practice parameter:
Temporal lobe and localized neocortical resections for epilepsy. Report of the
Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, in
association with the American Epilepsy Society and the American Association of
Neurological Surgeons. Neurology, 60(4):
538–547.

Engel J Jr, et al. (2003, reaffirmed 2005). Practice parameter:
Temporal lobe and localized neocortical resections for epilepsy. Report of the
Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, in
association with the American Epilepsy Society and the American Association of
Neurological Surgeons. Neurology, 60(4):
538–547.

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